Softball Sweeps Doubleheader against Elon on Alumni Day

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GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team continued its recent hot streak scoring 20 runs in a doubleheader sweep against rival Elon Saturday afternoon on Alumni Day at the UNCG Softball Stadium.

The Spartans improve to 26-24 with a 9-11 conference mark while Elon falls to 24-26-1 and 6-14 in the SoCon. UNCG has won six-straight conference games heading into Senior Day tomorrow.

UNCG 10, Elon 2 (5)

In game one, UNCG scored six runs in the fifth inning to run rule Elon 10-2 in five innings.

Senior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) threw all five innings to improve to 13-15 on the season after allowing two earned runs off four hits with seven strikeouts. Hanks now has 403 career strikeouts to move into fifth all-time in the record books. Alli Burdette took the loss after allowing nine earned runs off 11 hits to earn her fourth loss of the season.

Sophomore Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Classmate Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Junior Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) had a solid 2-for-3 day driving in three runs.

In the first inning, the Spartans scored four runs off three hits that included a two-run triple from Alcala. Lindsay Thomas roped an RBI double and Nicole Thomas earned an RBI single to left field to give UNCG a 4-0 lead.

Elon scored two runs in the second inning off two hits. With two runners on, Carey Million lined a two-run double to left centerfield scoring two runs to cut the Spartans lead to 4-2.

The Blue and Gold ended the game with a six-run fifth inning to run rule the Phoenix, 10-2. Sophomore Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) lined a double to left center to help break the single season team record with 79 doubles. Senior Toni MacReynolds (Vienna, Va./James Madison) singled to put runners at the corners. Alcala singled home Vega to make it 5-2. After a sacrifice bunt, pinch hitter Hagan Kiser (Asheboro, N.C./Southwestern) lined a RBI single. Back-to-back RBI walks from Bedwell and Lindsay Thomas gave the Spartans an 8-2 lead. Nicole Thomas and Danielle Vega both picked up RBI singles clinch the victory for UNCG.

UNCG 10, Elon 8

In game two, Hanks came on in the seventh to earn her second save of the season to help UNCG sweep a doubleheader against Elon.

In the seventh inning, Elon worked two walks to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Hanks induced a groundout to second base to give the Spartans their 26th win of the season and six-straight win against conference opponents. Junior Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) went 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot adding a RBI and Vega was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Elon took an early 2-0 lead without recording a hit in the first inning. The Phoenix loaded the bases with one out after earning three walks. Aly Quintana was hit by a pitch to bring home the first run and Amanda Allen picked up a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

In the bottom of the first, the Spartans sent 12 hitters to the plate scoring seven runs off seven hits to open up a 7-2 lead. Madruga singled to centerfield to start the frame. After a walk, senior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, B.C./Elgin Park) launched her SoCon leading 16th home run of the season, a three-run to right field. After a single and a out, MacReynolds reached on a fielding error to keep the inning alive. Freshman Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) earned an RBI single to make it 4-2 Spartans. Alcala scored off a wild pitch and Madruga beat out an infield hit sliding into first for the RBI. Lindsay Thomas picked up an RBI single for the seventh run of the inning.

The Phoenix would score two more runs in the second inning off a two-run home run from Emily Cameron, her eighth of the season, cutting UNCG’s lead to 7-4.

UNCG plated three unearned runs in the second inning off a crazy play. Nicole Thomas walked to start the inning, followed by a singled up the middle from Vega. After an out, Alcala hit a chopper to the catcher as Million tried to beat Alcala throwing it all the way to right field allowing all three runners to score off the error giving the Spartans a 10-4 lead.

Elon would climb back hitting back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth inning as Carleigh Nester and Emily Roper each went yard to cut UNCG’s lead to 10-6.

In the sixth inning, the Phoenix scored two unearned runs after UNCG made three errors helping Elon cut the lead to 10-8. Ali Ford reached on an error to start the inning and another error allowed Million to reach. Cameron picked up a sacrifice fly and Alaina Hall lined a RBI double to left center for the eighth run.

The Blue and Gold return tomorrow for Senior Day starting at 1 p.m. against Elon at the UNCG Softball Stadium.

Be sure to follow all updates about the UNCG softball team on www.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports/@UNCGsoftball. -UNCG-